Whatever thoughts, opinions etc we have of how others live, we need always to remember that to them, we are the others . . . and they are making similar judgements about is. Therefore, there is no independent ‘standard’ to decide which one is the ‘right’ of ‘normal’ one. That is one of the great paradoxes and dilemmas of life.

Due to Cultural diversity and Individual Self-Expressions , the rang of "normal" is a vast continuum: hence it really is virtually to give a definitive answer to "what is normal". Really, it is basically meaningless.

So maybe, what we are used to is not the best standard of judging ‘normal’ versus ‘not normal’ against. Yet, there must be some common ground or criteria by which we can make judgements. And interestingly enough, there is, it is simple, perhaps too simple because so few ever think of it or use it. It is using what we know from experience about what feels and is good for people, relationships, families, communities etc. In other words, we use the effects on people of living in certain ways as the criteria. It may not be the complete answer, but a much safer, intelligent and fairer way to do so. And one which opens the door to us allowing ourselves to change some of the things we do or believe, and to incorporate, in our own way, some of the things we have gathered from observing and witnessing others to improve and expand our own repertoire of what is ‘normal’. Once we begin that process, we quickly discover that it will be an ongoing one.

This works between cultures, between groups and between individuals. In relationships it is crucial to do so. Each one comes into it with their own sense of what is ‘normal’ and will notice things about the other that don’t fit that description. The choices are simple, either continue seeing them as ‘weird’ or ‘not normal’, or try and get to know and understand why they do/say things the way they do. When each one does this, it becomes a win-win for both. When we apply it across the board, it is win-win for everyone.-Klaas Tuinman, 2010, Deerfield, Nova Scotia

Normal 101

What Is Normal?

There is a standard we all use to ‘measure’ things, events and people against: that standard is called “normal”. We all use it, we all ‘know’ exactly what it means (to us), yet when asked to define or describe it, it comes down to something simple, yet odd.

It’s odd because it can be very simply summed up. First, “normal” is your side of the fence; “weird”, “different”, “strange” and “wrong” etc, are the other person’s side of the fence. And that works in both directions, regardless which side of the fence you’re on. Each of you is on your side and paradoxically, each of you is on the other side. Of course, that instantly begs the question, “which one is the real “normal” one”? Who decides?

When we look a bit closer, ‘normal’ turns out to be “what we are used to”. It is that simple, and that real. What we are familiar with is the criteria by which we make sense of the world and people around us; and of our own lives. When we see, hear, witness or experience things we are not familiar with we become disoriented for we cannot place it into the context that we are so used to, so familiar with. Our general tendency is to call it ‘odd’, ‘weird’, ‘wrong’, or ‘not normal’.

Yet, sometimes on these occasions, those things, while unfamiliar to us, don’t look ‘weird’ or ‘wrong’. Instead, at those moments they are eye-openers to other, perhaps better ways of doing certain things; or other and better ways to live. They create a recognition within us, because we realize that whatever it is resonates deeply with something we knew we’d been missing but could never before put a finger on it, so to speak. And then suddenly, there it is right before our eyes. At that moment the unfamiliar transforms into something that expands our sense of ‘normal’ because it connects with something we already ‘knew’, yet didn’t ‘know’.

Another point to consider is that the more often we are repeatedly exposed to, or experience, the same ‘weird/odd’ things, the less their impact tends to have on us, and we gradually come to accept it, too, perhaps not inclined to live it ourselves, but make allowance that this is how it is, or works, for others. Sometimes that is good, and it is called ‘tolerance’. But often it is not good, because we subtly accept things that aren’t good – that are harmful to others and to the people who live and experience it. That’s how people become inured to violence, alienation, social injustice, prejudice and violence, as just some examples.

“Normal”, because there are so many people in so many places who live their lives very differently from what we are used to, turns out to be situational and relative – it is always connected to what any person, or group, had become used to, as a way of thinking, feeling and living their lives. Also see "Culture".